The word "ballet" from Italian is translated as dance. Costumes, beautiful scenery, an orchestra - all designed to make the viewer interested. But how to understand what ballet dancers are trying to express in their movements? Each theatrical action has a brief summary, a script. It is called the libretto.
Composer P. I. Tchaikovsky wrote the ballet Sleeping Beauty in the 19th century. Summary, its libretto carry an allegory. This is a fairy tale story about the evil spells of a fairy, a princess who fell asleep and a magic kiss of love.
History of creation
The work of the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was highly appreciated by his contemporaries. Symphonies, ballets, musical miniatures gathered huge halls of spectators, broke a storm of applause.
The love of his work prompted the director of the imperial theaters to make an interesting proposal. Combine several tales of Charles Perrault into one storyline and write a new ballet for the Bolshoi Theater.
Tchaikovsky liked this idea. He enjoyed reading the fabulous libretto of the future ballet. This fantastic story inspired the composer so much that music itself flowed from under his pen.
The ballet Sleeping Beauty, a brief summary and music are an amazing combination of fabulous action, picturesque scenery, and classical choreography.
Ballet Nowadays
The ballet premiered in January 1890 at the Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg). More than a century has passed since then, but Sleeping Beauty is still popular. This ballet can be seen at the Bolshoi Theater of Moscow. It is also staged in regional theaters.
In St. Petersburg, on the stage of the Hermitage Theater, Sleeping Beauty first appeared in 2009. You should be aware that there is no numbering of seats in the hall for spectators. A long tradition involves free seating. Therefore, the ballet Sleeping Beauty in the Hermitage Theater can be watched from any place in the hall that you like.
The most interesting thing is that the choreography has remained almost unchanged. She was put to the premiere of the legendary Marius Petipa. Since then, choreographers from different countries, cities, regions have added something of their own to it. The dance pattern was slightly changed, some movements were amended. But the general style of Petipa’s choreography can be seen in every new ballet production. This example of dance art has become a classic.
Tchaikovsky, ballet "Sleeping Beauty" for kids
Theatrical action is always the subject of numerous discussions, contributes to new creative ideas. Fairytale ballet is a good basis for children's inspiration. In drawing lessons, students create pictures based on the plot. Affordable theater productions are being created.
In secondary schools, several lessons are reserved for the ballet Sleeping Beauty. Summary, music, watching videos of the performance contribute to introducing students to the elite art.
There is educational material for music schools. This includes slides adapted for a specific note instrument. The CDs contain the main themes of ballet.
Many kindergartens for kids show a musical tale based on the music and plot of Sleeping Beauty. After listening, preschoolers themselves try to dance their favorite topics. With ribbons, bells, kids try to express themselves in art.
"Sleeping Beauty". Summary
The libretto of the ballet was written by the director of the imperial theaters - Ivan Vsevolozhsky. This is the original alloy of several fairy tales by Charles Perrault. The eternal conflict of good and evil is represented in the image of two sorceresses - Fairies of Lilac and Fairies of Carabos. The awakening of beauty from sleep symbolizes the strength and triumph of love.
Fantastic scenes, magical transformations - all this is spectacular and poetic. Therefore, The Sleeping Beauty, the ballet by P. I. Tchaikovsky, became a successful work of the composer, choreographer, and screenwriter. And for a century now, has not left the stage, becoming a radiant masterpiece of world art.
Prologue
While traveling (France, Turkey, Georgia), he wrote the Tchaikovsky ballet Sleeping Beauty. The content, the action of the play tells about what is happening in a fabulous country.
In the palace, the holiday is the birth of Princess Aurora. King Florestan and the Queen invited the guests. The Lilac Fairy and 5 more sorceresses bless the newborn. They give her five essential qualities. Fairies Candide, Fleur de Farin, Baby, Canary, Violant manage to make their offerings.
But only her godmother, the Fairy of the Lilac, approached the princess, as an evil witch burst into the solemn hall named Carabos. She accuses the king and queen of not being invited to the feast. She wants a brutal revenge. Good sorceresses persuade her, asking not to ruin the fate of the young princess. But the evil of Fairy Carabos is inexorable. She invokes evil powers and conjures that Aurora will prick her hand with a spindle and die.
At this moment, the Lilac Fairy, who did not have time to make her prediction, proclaims that the princess will not die. She will only fall asleep for many, many years. Evil never conquers good, and Fairy Carabos retreats in impotence.
First action
Can the princess prevent a terrible curse? The ballet Sleeping Beauty continues its narrative. A summary of the first action agrees that 20 years have passed. The day of the Princess’s coming of age is getting closer, when an evil prophecy must be fulfilled.
The palace is preparing for the holiday. Peasants weave garlands of flowers. The four grooms - contenders for the hand of Aurora - are worried. On the day of her adulthood, she will name the one who becomes a happy chosen spouse.
Aurora hurries to start the holiday. She enjoys dancing and is ready to bestow each of the grooms with her smile. But her heart is silent, the princess does not like any of the applicants.
Secretly, changing clothes, sneaks into the Fairy Carabos Palace. She also prepared a present. The princess, unaware of the bad, reveals another present. Among the flowers is a spindle. Aurora, not noticing him, accidentally pricked her finger. In a fright, she rushes to her parents, but then falls dead.
Carabos triumphs, her time has come, and the prophecy has come true - the princess is dead. Lilac Fairy is trying to reassure guests. She prepared her magic - immerses the whole courtyard of King Florestan in the sleepy kingdom. Only the appearance of the hero and his love will wake the princess, her parents, the whole palace.
Second action
“Sleeping Beauty” is a fantasy, fairy-tale ballet. Therefore, a whole century passed by the beginning of the second action. The godson of the Lilac Fairy, Prince Desiree, is hunting in the forest. He wanted to be alone, to decide. He is already an adult, and it is time to choose a wife. But the prince cannot choose. His heart is silent.
Suddenly, a Lilac Fairy appears in the forest. She wants to know who Prince Desiree will choose as his wife. The godson honestly replies that not one of the brides was sweet to him. Then the Fairy invites the prince to introduce him to another applicant. She evokes the spirit of Aurora. The prince is impressed by the beauty and grace of the girl. But the Fairy does not even allow him to touch Aurora. The prince must go after her to the magical realm.
The sleeping castle, all around in fog, is covered in dust and cobwebs. Prince Desiree carefully looks around. Suddenly the Fairy Carabos appears. She does not like this prince and his desire to wake Aurora. There is a battle, Carabos defeated. The fog clears, Desiree sees the princess lying. One kiss of love - and the evil spell is broken. Aurora wakes up, and with it the king and queen wake up, the whole court.
The hero asks for the long-awaited reward - the hand of the princess. King Florestan blesses the young. Preparations for the wedding begin.
Apotheosis
Evil spells are dispelled, peace and good triumph. A lot of fairy-tale characters come to the wedding of Desiree and Aurora . Puss in boots and Duke Bluebeard with his wife. Little Red Riding Hood and Gray Wolf. White kitty and blue bird. Cinderella and Prince Fortune. Came to the wedding of the Fairies of Silver, Sapphires, Diamonds, Gold. Happiness and joy reign now in the palace.
The content of the ballet contains an allegory that tells of the power of love. That the soul is sleeping without her. And only after feeling the power of love, a person wakes up from a dream of indifference. His soul is ready to give the world kindness and joy.